David Warner’s new-found pedestrian approach to batting is being questioned by former Test stars.
Warner has transformed from risk-taker to single-maker with his strike rate in the Ashes series against England, dipping to near-record lows.
In Warner’s 22 Test series, only twice has he scored at a slower rate.
His strike rate against England in the current series is 54.44 – his lowest-ever rates are 50.38 in India in 2013 and 54.11 in the West Indies in 2012.
And while his Test career strike rate remains a healthy 76.22, some former Test stars are questioning Warner’s sluggish output.
“Warner is a little bit of a concern for me, (he) looks like he is really playing within himself this series,” ex-England batsman Kevin Pietersen told the Nine Network.
“We have hardly seen any hustle and bustle … I’m wondering whether he is thinking responsible, responsible, responsible instead of thinking the David Warner way which is whack, whack, whack.
“He has been so good at handing over the pressure to the bowlers, to the opposition captain, and we just haven’t seen any of that.”
Former Australian captain Mark Taylor concurred, saying Pietersen had “hit the nail right on the head”.
“Playing within yourself is not exactly the right way to do it,” Taylor said.
Pietersen said Warner’s dismissal against England on the second day of the third Test in Perth was evidence of the batsman’s mindset.
Warner was caught behind from Craig Overton’s bowling when prodding outside off stump.
“A symptom of what is happening to David Warner at the moment is he is thinking singles,” Pietersen said.
“Look at the angle of his bat – he is thinking, ‘I want to put you to the offside and get a single, I want to get off strike’.”
Reg44
Guest
Gotta love AAP ghost journos trying to generate content from a third party and turn it into a story. I have no problems with his current batting or his strike rate of 61.
paul
Guest
Pietersen and co need to have a look at the pitches and the match situations before making such inane comments. First Test, new batting partner who was out for 5, chasing 302 after spending over a day in the field on a really slow pitch. Second innings chasing 173, batted brilliantly. Adelaide both innings,batted well in the first innings then, in the second innings, had to cope with a ball that was hooping around, under lights. This Test, needed to get Australia off to a good start chasing 403, again after spending a day in the field and he got out sparring at one outside off stump. So what? I'd rather the current Dave Warner version who's helping Australia win Tests by the way, than the old version which made flashy low scores. And just for the record, his strike rate of 61 is not shabby at all.
Linphoma
Guest
The strike rate is down, he looks out of sorts, but the guy is still averaging 49. Not too shabby.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
And while you’re on that, can we have the big bash commentators too? Kerry packer must be rolling in his grave given what ch.9 cricket coverage/commentary has become.
Andrew
Guest
Strike rate this, strike rate that, at least mention Dave Warners average this series is 49, lets focus on that. Whoever mentions the Dons strike rate over his career average?
Liam
Guest
Please. The greats you're quoting both form part of the Channel 9 commentary; it's in their interests for Warner to blast the thing to all parts, and that's provided he actually does it without going out. Warner's batting like a test match opener, which is the position he holds. If that bores them, they can watch the Big Bash on channel 10.